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 The Erie County Fair slogan is "The Best 12 Days of Summer. Opening day has changed over the years, but the anticipation is still great. When I was a kid, it was preceded by the arrival of the James E. Strates shows train, and by a grand parade full of floats built by every community in the County. For myriad reasons, the opening has become more compact, with a grand opening at the main gate, and a canned food drive. When people say "This ain't the fair I remember!" My answer is "That's because it's alive. The only things that don't change are in museums." The fair that adults remember today were pale imposters to our great grandparents. Kids going to the Fair in 2023 will relish the memories, and scoff at the 227th. That's how history works.

To honor Opening Day, I have the Main Gate wrought Iron sign, with balloons st aloft. This was the square I fretted over from the moment I drew it. The lettering and thin lines were a fright to carve. But it all printed beautifully.